"Embracing Bio-Based Materials - Exploring alternative ways of living in the countryside of the Netherlands"

The Netherlands, a small, densely populated country with 54% of its surface area devoted to agriculture, has achieved high productivity through monoculture, homogeneity, and heavy inputs. However, this has come at the cost of soil degradation, biodiversity loss, emissions, and accelerated ecosystem decline. Additionally, the Netherlands is facing a housing crisis driven by limited construction, immigration, rising housing prices, and a lack of affordable options. Consequently, new construction in the coming years is inevitable to meet the growing demand. However, the production of building materials in the current Dutch built environment significantly contributes to anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Given the urgent need to reduce GHG emissions and achieve net cooling impacts, this research proposes an alternative way of living in the Dutch countryside by integrating nature, agriculture, and housing. The case of Noordoostpolder, a municipality in Flevoland known for its fertile land, is explored. This research is not just an academic exercise but a real-world demonstrative case study that arose from social and political demands. It was developed in collaboration with public and private entities. During the design and development of the building technology for the Kumiki Model House, various challenges emerged, necessitating a holistic approach that considered the landscape, farming, local development, land health, and lifestyle. Through connections facilitated by Building Balance, reasonably established and promising local biobased supply chains were investigated, including the associated building technologies and their implementation in construction. The study also examined the impact of cultivating fibre crops on soil structure, ecology, and biodiversity, while promoting the diversification of material use. The Kumiki Model House aims to implement the theories of ‘Vegetarian Architecture’ and ‘Vernacular Architecture of the 21st Century’ by demonstrating the potential of regionally produced, locally available natural and fast-growing bio-based materials while employing exemplary construction techniques. The proposal also seeks to minimise high-tech components, utilising them only in unavoidable circumstances to enhance overall performance. The multi-layered issues in Noordoostpolder are addressed through permaculture principles, emphasising regenerative living, self-reliance, and resource minimisation. This approach aims to create a more robust and sustainable agroecosystem, ensuring long-term agricultural viability. Lastly, potential environmental savings from cradle to gate were illustrated using the Ökobaudat database. The use of fast-growing, locally sourced bio-based materials like straw, flax, paulownia, and willow, along with the limited use of robinia, Douglas fir, Norway spruce, and oak, allows the Kumiki Model House to store significant amounts of biogenic CO2, making it carbon-negative. Public access to the construction site of the Kumiki Model House and collaborative landscape restoration efforts will foster community development initiatives and raise awareness of urgent issues related to agricultural transition and ecology.